What's happening with the people that were on Elevators?

[corarose]

It must be very scary right now and I would be freaking out if I was trapped in an elevator due to a blackout.
They probably don't know what's happening.

[quinnox]

1. Also bathroom

just think if you were in the bathroom at the time.

[Pobeka]

18. Just think if you were in an elevator and needed to go to the bathroom...

[Clete]

2. Well, the last big grid blackout

resulted in a bumper crop of babies nine months later.

[corarose]

4. Ohhhhh your terrible!

They will need to find some way to get their minds off of being trapped.

[shanti]

12. i was just mentioning this to someone!

man's oldest method of recreation:-)

[DagmarK]

14. Well, if I were in an elevator....

I'd sure hope God would see to it to lock me in it with some hunky sweet smellin' guy and no one else!

:-)

[KCDem]

3. geez, I can only imagine the panic

Esp. after 9/11... and these people aren't getting news.

I hope all of DUers without power are safe.

[corarose]

5. I would be going to the bathroom on myself (No Joke)

Think about it your in an elevator and it shuts down and your in NY.

Yes, I would go to the bathroom on myself!

[Heddi]

6. Once at my apartment building

the lights went off for about 2 hours b/c they were doing electrical work outside our building.

Being in the house wasn't bad, but walking through the hallways was AWFUL---the emergency lights didn't work, and we didn't think to bring a flashlight with us (The lights went off while we were out of the house, and we came back to a very dark apartment building).

WE had to 'feel' our way up 3 flights of stairs---quite scary in the blackest black I've ever not-seen. You couldn't see your hand in front of your face. I got a lighter, which only illuminated my hand and nothing more.

After about 30 minutes of trying to make it up the stairway without plumetting over the side, I got into our hallway, and realized I wouldn't be able to tell which door was ours without a light...and I was afraid of opening someone elses door!

After another 20 minutes in the hallway, I finally found the door---went inside and got a flashlight for poor husband who was stuck in the stairwell----he got turned around and wasn't sure where to go and didn't want to fall over the ledge either, so he just stood alone in a darkened hallway for 40 minutes.. :(

VERY scary...>I couldn't imagine being in an elevator. I would be *FREAKING* out.

I mean, if these people are in elevators in big buildings, their cellphones PROBABLY don't work in there to begin with. If they DO work, they probably aren't able to get a connection b/c of everyone else on the eastern seaboard that's stuck in elevators and such trying to use THEIR cellphone.

I'm sure it's quite terrifying being stuck in an elevator, in NYC, in the dark, with no communication, and having NO idea what's going on. Prolly think it's another 9/11 or something :(

[corarose]

8. The lights went out at a Resort that we were staying at one time

I know what you mean.

We were in the hallways and we were drunk. We had to feel our ways along the wall and touch the numbers on each door to find out where we were at.

It was horrible.

[Heddi]

10. I couldn't even feel the numbers on the apt. doors

because the numbers are painted on a flat plate---so all you feel is a plate of wood or whatever the numbers are on (ha! I don't even know and I live here!!)...it really sucked....I was most afraid of accidentally opening my kooky neighbor's door (who happens to be a real nutcase) and getting a face-full of buckshot :)

[Generic Other]

7. Frightening thought to be in an elevator

at this time. No way to stop from panicking. Think about it. Is it a terrorist attack? Do you just wait for the building to fall around you, or try and escape? Is anyone alive outside?

Hopefully, no elevator is without at least one cell phone. Poor people. At least they can be reassured that it's not the end of the world if they can call home.

The elevator is too much like a coffin for some of us. Like being buried alive in a vertical position.

[HalfManHalfBiscuit]

9. Emergency generators

Blackouts aren't that uncommon.

[Generic Other]

11. Quit trying to ease my panic attack!

What's the matter with you? Do you want me to hyperventilate?

Aren't you glad I'm not stuck in an elevator with you? I really would be anxious. You'd probably have to slap me when I started getting hysterical.

[AntiBushRepub]

13. It is possible....

To open SOME elevator doors by hand....

[corarose]

16. Old 70's tragedy movies always included an elevator scene

I think that they have a door on top of the car.

[hlthe2b]

15. uhhhhgh.... poor things...

I feel so bad for the folks in elevators, subways and other enclosed (and very HOT) crowded places. I can only hope for their sake they can get them out quickly. I think my worse nightmare would be to have to spend hours in such a setting....

[Lisa]

17. I actually was trapped in an elevator for an hour, several years back ...

Luckily the power was still on -- it wasn't too hot (I was the only one in there, and there was adequate ventilation). I recall that I ended up with a headache, what with having to yell to the people outside that I was okay (they would start hammering on the doors if they didn't hear me).

I drew a landscape on the inside of the elevator, using a (water soluble) marker -- kind of a warped sense of freedom, knowing that nobody would reprimand me over it.

Found out later that during a similar incident a few years before, another person had been trapped, and needed sedation and several days under a doctor's care.

I'd imagine it would be pretty unpleasant to be trapped in an elevator or subway with other people though -- greater chance of panic. I can empathize with anyone who has to go through something like that ... I guess all I can say is, try to make the best of the situation. If you can manage to distract yourself (and others) with something goofy that keeps everyone occupied until help arrives -- drawing/writing stuff on the walls, telling stories, etc. -- people will thank you for it later.

[leftofthedial]

19. they're probably smoking cigarettes

and mentally composing letters to Penthouse by now.